President Trump called California Governor Gavin Newsom a “racist,” escalating their ongoing political rivalry, as reported by The Hill. The president’s latest attack came in response to comments Newsom made during a book tour stop last month, which Trump labeled “the most self-destructive interview I’ve ever seen” in a Truth Social post.
Trump believes Newsom’s remarks have effectively torpedoed his chances for a future presidential run. “In one fell swoop, he took himself out of even being considered as the Presidential Nominee of the Crazy (as proven at the State of the Union Address) Democrats,” Trump wrote, referring to Newsom, who many consider a strong contender for the Democratic presidential ticket in 2028.
The controversy stems from a conversation Newsom had with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens while promoting his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. Newsom told the audience, “I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you, I am like you. I am no better than you. I am a 960 SAT guy. And I’m not trying to offend anyone, [or] act all there if you got 940. But literally a 960 SAT guy. You have never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech.”
Newsom’s comments quickly drew fire from conservatives, who accused the governor of talking down to Black voters
Corrin Rankin, who serves as the chair of California’s Republican Party and is Black, stated, “Gavin Newsom continues to speak down to Black people, saying that we aren’t smart enough, or capable of getting an ID, or passport, or even score higher than a thousand on our SATs.”
Newsom, however, quickly pushed back on these interpretations last month, clarifying that his remarks were not meant to be racist. Instead, he explained, he was simply referencing his lifelong battle with dyslexia, a struggle he has openly discussed in other interviews, including one last year with the late Charlie Kirk.
Newsom directly addressed Trump’s post, reiterating that he was speaking about his dyslexia. He didn’t hold back, adding a seriously sharp retort: “I know that’s hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand.”
Despite Newsom’s explanation, President Trump continued to hammer away at the governor’s initial comments later. “He said, in a speech, he was dumb, had low Boards, can’t read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder — A Cognitive Mess!” Trump wrote. He then doubled down on the racism accusation, stating, “On top of that, Black People are angry because he is obviously a racist.”
The president added, “While we all want to be politically correct, having a mental disorder is not a positive campaign event,” he continued, calling Newsom’s original comment “a politically suicidal act.” Trump concluded his message by confidently declaring Newsom “no longer a viable Presidential Candidate!”
Published: Mar 12, 2026 12:30 pm